Sonic Lost World - Previews

[SweeCrue]

They also used footage of the Classic Sonic mod for Sonic 4 Ep2... wat.

[WhoWhatMan]

This is why I never look at Sonic Related news on IGN, they are so baised... at least they are kinda better then Game informer...

 

Key word "KINDA"

[sonfan1984]

So basically they mostly like it cause it goes back to its roots and its on a Nintendo system. But other then that their reasons doesn't sound that encouraging.

Edited August 12, 2013 by sonfan1984

[Milo]

So basically they mostly like it cause it reminds them of the 2D classic Sonic games..

 

That's pretty much the reason why Sonic 4: Epi. I got the 8/10 score it did from them.

[azoo]

It reminds them of 2D classic Sonic and is a Nintendo exclusive. Its gonna get 8s and 9s, no doubt. :v

[Pawn]

It would have been much better if they'd actually touched on the gameplay more, since that will concern cynics the most. "It looks good" has been said about almost every Sonic game in the past, after all.

[Autosaver]

It essentially looks like Ice Cap Zone. I see no factory elements...a factory themed leveled could be in future acts, though.

I thought someone said the water zone was just the factory level? I don't know if that was confirmed though.

[KrazyBean]

I wonder if they'll enjoy the game because it's a good game, or they'll enjoy the game because it feels classic...

[PSI Wind]

 

*watches video*

 

Narrator: Reason 1: It goes back to it's roots. *pause* Sonic doesn't go right back to it's roots

 

Wait does it or doesn't it?

 

Narrator: It's locations, characters and colour schemes... theres even a casino stage.

 

So basically... like pretty much every previous game except Sonic 06 and Shadow?

 

Narrator: Reason 2: It's on a single paltform

 

You'll see in my preview (should be going up at some point early this week) why this isn't a completely good reason.

 

The video isn't really that insightful as it's just picking a few fan praises at random and a bit of Iizuka explaining the reasons for this.

What's wrong with it being on a single platform? Instead of the team spliting up and having to deal with 2 different architectures, they can focus on one version of one game on one platform.

[Badnik Mechanic]

What's wrong with it being on a single platform?

 

Because you'll find they're trying to use certain unique features of the platform in utterly horrendous ways which make the game absolutely frustrating to play.

[Autosaver]

I haven't seen any previews about the Gamepad mechanics. How does it work anyways?

[Ultimate Waffle]

I haven't seen any previews about the Gamepad mechanics. How does it work anyways?

 

Don't you just need to tap it to activate the wisp? Similar to how Colors handled the waggle.

[Badnik Mechanic]

I haven't seen any previews about the Gamepad mechanics. How does it work anyways?

 

How should I put this?

 

Attempting to use the Wisps is broken beyond repair. It's a complete mess.

 

I'll expand on this more once the TSS update goes live and answer questions anyone has on it as best as I can answer. (Will be tonight, some point around 8-9PM unless someone else on the staff wants to add anything to it).

 

You have to use the gamepad to not only activate the Wisp, but also use it to aim and eventually use the power. The Wisps are tied to the gamepad/touch screen, you cannot use buttons to trigger them.

 

Now, at first I thought 'is this a problem with me being unfamiliar with the system?' it turns out it's not, I've asked a number of people, both Wii U and non Wii U owners this, and they all said the same thing, the Wisp power system/control scheme in this game right now is terrible. Not Sonic 06 bad, but pretty close.

 

 

 

Don't you just need to tap it to activate the wisp? Similar to how Colors handled the waggle.

 

No, it's not just that. You have to tap a 'very small area' of the pad to 'activate the wisp' and enter 'wisp prep mode' with the case of the laser wisp, you have to then use the pad itself to aim the wisp and fire the wisp, before you think 'that sounds easy' no it isn't... it's a complete mess.

 

The annoying thing is that the game 'freezes' during Wisp activation, and unless theres a cancellation command (game doesn't tell you this) you have no option but to use the wisp, making me wonder why the controls for the wisp powers are not just mapped to the buttons?

[Doctor MK]

As you'll see from the upcoming TSS preview, I too can vouch that the Wisp powers (or at least the Laser) are completely broken.

 

However, contrary to popular belief, you can use the control stick and buttons to activate it. It's not displayed anywhere, and it sure as hell isn't as smooth as it was in Colours, but it is possible. I know this from trying to activate the Laser Wisp myself and trying it out of sheer frustration with the unresponsive touch controls.

 

So yes, the stick and buttons can be used. But SEGA doesn't seem to want you to know that. Heck, I only discovered it out of sheer curiosity.

[SenEDDtor Missile]

As you'll see from the upcoming TSS preview, I too can vouch that the Wisp powers (or at least the Laser) are completely broken.

 

However, contrary to popular belief, you can use the control stick and buttons to activate it. It's not displayed anywhere, and it sure as hell isn't as smooth as it was in Colours, but it is possible. I know this from trying to activate the Laser Wisp myself and trying it out of sheer frustration with the unresponsive touch controls.

 

So yes, the stick and buttons can be used. But SEGA doesn't seem to want you to know that. Heck, I only discovered it out of sheer curiosity.

I have a feeling this will not end well in a critical score sense.

[Komodin]

Is there even the slightest possibility of them fixing the Wisp controls at this point, if they really are that bad?

[Doctor MK]

Is there even the slightest possibility of them fixing the Wisp controls at this point, if they really are that bad?

 

Unlikely, I would have thought. We can only hope that the other Wisps don't control as horribly as the Laser.

[Badnik Mechanic]

However, contrary to popular belief, you can use the control stick and buttons to activate it. It's not displayed anywhere, and it sure as hell isn't as smooth as it was in Colours, but it is possible. I know this from trying to activate the Laser Wisp myself and trying it out of sheer frustration with the unresponsive touch controls.

 

This is something I'll be bringing up also.

 

The game offers utterly no help at all, we've complained for a while about tutorials and the over use of Omachao. But for the last 10 years, we've had very very little in terms of control scheme changes.

 

From Sonic 06 - Generations, whats the most drastic change we've had? The quick step? The 1 button activation for classic Sonic's spin dash? The boost?

 

Yet it's all very easy to understand and figure out. Most of the time it's a 1 button command.

 

Lost World isn't.

 

Basic actions It's such a radical change that even veteran Sonic players are going to struggle with just doing the most basic actions. To quote several people on the day of SOS "How do I attack the badniks?"

 

Is there even the slightest possibility of them fixing the Wisp controls at this point, if they really are that bad?  

 

Not without compromising the game in another area.

 

The Wisps are tied and locked to the gamepad, when activated, action takes place on the gamepad, and it looks terrible. The 'TV' screen locks up and resembles a console system crash/lock up, I nearly called over a rep because I thought I'd broken the game!       

[Narukami07]

That sounds rather troubling.

Edited August 12, 2013 by Narukami07

[PSI Wind]

People complained that Kid Icarus: Uprising had horrible controls, and I got used to them and had no problems pretty quickly.

[SenEDDtor Missile]

People complained that Kid Icarus: Uprising had horrible controls, and I got used to them and had no problems pretty quickly.

Well to be fair, just because you got used to the controls doesn't mean they were necessarily good. By that logic, 06 didn't have awful controls because people got used to them.

[Doctor MK]

People complained that Kid Icarus: Uprising had horrible controls, and I got used to them and had no problems pretty quickly.

 

As someone who has played Kid Icarus Uprising and also got used to its controls, I'm afraid I have to say Lost World's Wisp controls are nothing at all of the sort. Uprising's controls were uncomfortable, but Lost World's Wisp controls are just broken.

 

As Hogfather says, it's all very disorientating on the screen too, everything locks up and slows down a bit while you activate the power, it's nowhere near as fluid to the gameplay as it was in Colours or even Generations.

 

Or rather, if you can activate the power. I spent a good minute just trying to draw a simple straight line on the touch screen that would actually register.

[Balding Spider]

Ooh this sounds rough right here.

[Narukami07]

As someone who has played Kid Icarus Uprising and also got used to its controls, I'm afraid I have to say Lost World's Wisp controls are nothing at all of the sort. Uprising's controls were uncomfortable, but Lost World's Wisp controls are just broken.

 

As Hogfather says, it's all very disorientating on the screen too, everything locks up and slows down a bit while you activate the power, it's nowhere near as fluid to the gameplay as it was in Colours or even Generations.

 

Or rather, if you can activate the power. I spent a good minute just trying to draw a simple straight line on the touch screen that would actually register.

 

Were everything else within the game besides the Wisp controls good?

Edited August 12, 2013 by Narukami07

[Zavok the SpinningSilver]

I have a feeling this will not end well in a critical score sense.

Well, I wouldn't say it would hurt too much since they seem to be mostly optional. I'm sure IGN wouldn't care.

 

But good lord, the controls are that broken? That's no good. Is it the same for the 3DS, or is it easier to handle?